no SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



hurricanes ; furthermore, tlie English of Xacal are so close by land, 

 as has been remarked, and by sea it is not more than 150 leagues after 

 coming out of the Bahama Channel ; nor do they neglect to teach their 

 perverse religion to these poor heathen ; for which reason they keep 

 raiding, in conjunction with the other pirates' nest which they main- 

 tain in Bermuda, where they have two other forts with which they are 

 in connection, for they are not more than 200 sea leagues apart, and 

 it takes not over 8 days for communication. 



Chapter XXXVI 



Of Many Other Provinces Lying in the District of Florida, and 

 of the Wealth of Ambergris and Pearls Produced There, and the 

 Need of a Prelate. 



313. In this region there are many provinces well peopled by war- 

 like tribes and abounding in food supplies of corn and other cereal 

 and root crops, quantities of fruit, fallow deer, elk, rabbits, and other 

 animals, with plenty of feathered game, partridges, quail, doves, 

 turtledoves, turkeys, pheasants, and other birds ; in the mighty rivers 

 there is abundance of delicious fish and great beds of pearls. Among 

 the provinces closest to St. Augustine are Urribarracu, and at 3 days' 

 journey NE. from there, the Province of Acuera, which to the N. 

 borders on the Province of Ocali ; the capital of the latter contains 

 more than 700 houses ; it is abundantly supplied with corn and fruit, 

 and is some 20 leagues from the Province of Acuera. Sixteen leagues 

 beyond Ocali is that of \^itacucho or Chile, of over 10,000 Indians, 

 a brave and warlike tribe, whose habit it is to set out for war with 

 large feather headdresses, very handsome after their fashion. All 

 these provinces were explored by Gov. Hernando de Soto with his 

 army in the year 1540. Next comes the Province of Osachile, and 12 

 leagues beyond, that of Apalache ; the first village has 250 houses ; 

 the country consists of fertile lowlands with many field cabins and 

 much cultivation ; the chief was Capali, governor of the whole country 

 and of the banks of the mighty river Osachile, very rich in fish and 

 pearls. To the N. of Apalache there are many other villages 3 days' 

 journey removed, under the same lord of Apalache ; from here to 

 the Bay of Espiritu Santo is 150 leagues. 



314. Ten leagues beyond Apalache lies the Province of Atalpaha, 

 with large villages and plenty of food; from there it was 10 short 

 days' journey through country fertile and prolific, along the banks 

 of a river running N. and S., to the Province of Chalaqui, which has 

 few inhabitants; next comes that of Cofachi, with attractive and fer- 



